Releases

CLEVELAND – Jamie Johnson’s second multi-goal game of the season guided the Grand Rapids Griffins to a 3-2 win over the Lake Erie Monsters at Quicken Loans Arena on Friday night and elevated the Griffins above their hosts in the North Division standings.

Johnson’s 13th goal of the year tied the game at two late in the second period, and pushed him past the 12 goals in 78 games he registered in his first season with the Griffins. Mitch Callahan notched the game winner with his second AHL goal, while Gustav Nyquist and Tomas Tatar each added two assists. Ryan Stoa and Hugh Jessiman registered goals for a Monsters club that the Griffins will face again at 7:30 p.m. on Saturday.

Joey MacDonald finished with 24 saves for a Grand Rapids team that improved its record to 8-2 against North Division opponents. Trevor Cann stopped 29 of the 32 shots he faced for Lake Erie (12-14-1-1).

Grand Rapids (12-12-1-2) caught a break early in the opening period when Lake Erie appeared to have opened the scoring. However, when crashing the Griffins crease, the Monsters dislodged the net and caused the goal to be called back.

The Griffins were then able to get out to a 1-0 lead when Johnson picked up a power play tally for his 12th goal of the season. Along the right side of the net, Tomas Tatar bought enough time to slip the puck through the crease to Johnson, who was stationed at the back door for the easy tap in.

At 6:32 of the second period, Stoa’s snap shot from just above the right face-off circle beat MacDonald glove side to draw the Monsters level at one. Jessiman’s team-leading 11th goal at 10:19 gave the Monsters their first lead over the Griffins this season, having been shut out 3-0 on Nov. 2.

That lead did not last long. A traffic jam in front of the net troubled Cann and the confusion allowed Johnson to swoop in and record his second goal of the night, guiding the puck over the line one-handed at 18:40.

In the final 20 minutes, the puck once again bounced in favor of the Griffins to give them the 3-2 advantage. A Brent Raedeke drive deflected in front of the goal and Callahan did well to fend off the challenge from his defenseman and steer the puck into a half-empty cage. Callahan’s goal at 4:06 proved to be all the Griffins needed to see out the remainder of the contest.